Teargas: Opposition boycotts Parliament
JUDE LUGGYA
PARLIAMENT
THE gassing of opposition supporters with their leaders and the continued illegal detention of the rebel Peoples Redemption Army suspects yesterday prompted 73 MPs to walk out of Parliament.
Prof. Ogenga Latigo, the leader of opposition in Parliament led the walk out by 57 opposition MPs and 16 independents.
The move, which the Speaker Edward Ssekandi described as "regrettable," happened at 3:00 pm, on Tuesday, the day the seventh Parliament reconvened after a short recess.
Parliament broke off on December 28, 2006.
WALK-OUT: Opposition’s Ogenga Latigo, led the group that has boycotted Parliament. File photo.
Shortly before the walk out, Latigo told a crowded House that they were united in protesting against the government's continued detention of PRA suspects in total breach of a court order and the brutal break up of opposition rallies by Police.
"We must show our maximum displeasure and contempt to what is happening in this country; the escalating breakdown of the rule of law. Until these unfortunate happenings are resolved, we shall withdraw our services from this House," Prof. Latigo told a hushed House.
The speaker Ssekandi hastily said Parliament is not to blame for the walk out. "The fault is not with Parliament, I don't know what we can do. I'm surprised because the fault is not ours. Personally, I regret the walk out but we should respect their decision," he said as the MPs stormed out of the plenary chambers.
Prof. Latigo told journalists at an impromptu briefing that the responsibility of defending and upholding constitutionalism and the rule of law lies with Parliament. "President Museveni's government is trying to subvert the rule of law so that Ugandans have no where to turn. Maybe because he is used to the gun. We believe that this country has suffered enough and anything that tends to turn it to the rule of the gun is unacceptable," he said.
"Ugandans are crying for democracy. What do they get in turn? The Police is unleashing teargas to everybody. It is not about the Constitutional Square. When the DP went to Masulita, they were followed up. When they went to Mukono, they were tear-gassed. You saw what happened to FDC last week," Prof. Latigo said.
Police last week broke up opposition rallies; one organised by FDC in Kampala and the other by the Democratic Party in Masulita, Luweero.
Latigo said the opposition's concern goes beyond the detention of the PRA suspects to "the malicious and brutal manner the government is denying Ugandans their rights."
The PRA suspects are charged with treason alongside FDC leader Dr Kizza Besigye and face death by hanging if found guilty .
Fourteen of the 22 suspects were granted bail by the High Court on November 16, 2005. They were, however, re-arrested and returned to Luzira. Three have since been granted amnesty while 11 await release.
A fortnight ago, the Constitutional Court ordered their immediate release and declared their trial by the General Court Martial illegal. The State has since announced its intention to appeal the ruling as the suspects languish in the gallows.
The Commissioner for Prisons Dr Joseph Byabasaija recently said he is awaiting the interpretation of the Constitutional Court's judgment by the Solicitor General in order to produce the suspects in court for subsequent release.
Latigo said Ugandans who have not taken a second look at the NRM government should do so. "It [Movement's government] stinks. It is going to bring us bloodshed," Latigo said.
Oyam North MP Ben Wacha said law makers should not sit comfortably and watch as rights of Ugandans are trampled upon and violated.
"Our colleagues who came to this Parliament on the NRM ticket should also take action. They should know that the violation of peoples' rights is a national but not a partisan issue," he said.
FDC chief whip Kassiano Wadri clarified that opposition MPs have only boycotted business in the Plenary but would participate in other Parliament business like attending sessional and sectoral committees.
"If the government this night became realistic and stopped violating the rights of Ugandans, we shall be in the Plenary tomorrow," he said.
